SPRING RETRACTABLE CAR KEY

• US 3,672,192 A
• Filed: 02/17/1971
• Issued: 06/27/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vassilios Dontas
• Original Assignee: Vassilios Dontas
• Inventors: Dontas, Vassilios
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US05/116,191
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 70/414,388,456R 150/40
• US Class Current: 70/414
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/328 comprising a sliding mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/791 Ejecting feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8676 Key holders

Abstract

A retractable key holder has a carriage disposed within to which a key is releasably clamped by a shoulder on a shaft threadedly engaged with such carriage and extending exteriorly of the holder. A pair of compression springs are disposed in the body of the holder in parallel relation to the key. Prongs extending from one side of the carriage are engageable with the springs. Pressure applied to an actuator carried by the shaft slides the carriage and the clamped key to an extended position causing the prongs to compress the springs and bias the key toward its retracted position.

Claims

1. In a retractable key holder including an elongated body member having an external end abutment surface adapted to engage the face of a lock, said body member being hollow and containing a key for said lock, said key being longitudinally movable from a retracted position entirely within said body member to an extended position projecting outwardly from said body member through an aperture formed in said end abutment surface, carriage means disposed within said body memBer and slidable between a first position corresponding to said retracted position of said key and a second position corresponding to said extended position of said key;

clamping means for clamping said key to said carriage means;

a pair of compression springs disposed in said body member in parallel relation to said key, said springs being positioned equidistantly of the longitudinal centerline of said body member and on one side of said carriage means;

spring engaging means disposed on said carriage means and engageable with said compression springs; and

a rigid operating member attached to said carriage means and extending exteriorly of said body member, whereby pressure applied to said operating member to slide said carriage means from said first position to said second position causes said spring engaging means to compress said springs and bias said key from its resulting extended position towards its retracted position.

2. A retractable key holder as in claim 1 in which said operating member comprises a shaft threadedly received in said carriage means.

3. A retractable key holder as in claim 2 in which said clamping means comprises a shoulder on said shaft, said key being releasably clamped between said shoulder and said carriage means as said shaft is threadedly engaged with said carriage means.

4. A retractable key holder as in claim 1 in which said spring engaging means comprise a pair of prongs extending from said one side of said carriage means, each of said prongs being engageable with a respective one of said compression springs.

5. A retractable key holder as in claim 1 in which said operating member is attached to said carriage means on the other side thereof.